Private housebuilder Linden Homes aims to set up divisions in Lancashire and Berkshire as part of expansion plans
Chief executive Philip Davies said the company, which has a turnover of £145m, would start operating in the areas in the third quarter of the year. It is not certain if the expansion will come through an acquisition or via organic growth.

Davies said the company had some managerial staff available that could go into those areas if Linden decided against buying another firm.

The Berkshire team, which will also work in north Hampshire, would initially operate out of Linden's Southampton office, while the Lancashire team would be located in its office in Wilmslow, Cheshire.

If Linden did decide to buy another company, it would be looking for a housebuilders valued at £10m or more. Davies said: "It has to be £10m-plus to make it worthwhile. By the time you have done due diligence it has to have a bit of meat on it."

Davies said Linden possessed a warchest to make such a buy. He said: "The Bank of Scotland is one of our major shareholders and I'm sure that it would back us on the right acquisition."

It has to be £10m-plus to be worthwhile. After due diligence it has to have a bit of meat on it

Chief executive Philip Davies

Linden has five regional offices, including ones in Southampton and Wilmslow. The head office is in Caterham, Surrey, and the western region is covered by the central Bristol office. The Chiltern region is covered by an office in Harefield, north-west London.

The company develops sites that accommodate between 10 and 400 homes.

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